David Silva’s determination to help City land more silverware this season is coming at personal cost according to reports this morning.
The Spaniard, one of the Blues’ most popular players of all-time, has been playing with a painful ankle injury for most of the campaign, boss Manuel Pellegrini has revealed.
The Mirror report: “Silva has been dogged by ankle problems for the past few years and was side-lined for seven weeks earlier this season with a recurrence of the issue.
“Although Silva has returned for City and is getting back to his best form, Pellegrini admitted the playmaker is still suffering whenever he plays.
David is coming back from a long... I can’t say an injury, because it’s a pain in his ankle,’ said Pellegrini.
‘He’s trying to improve as much as he can, but he continues to play when he is not 100 per cent comfortable.
‘He did it well against Aston Villa and I hope if he is 100 per cent he will continue improving, but he is still feeling the pain.’”
The above story has been picked up by several websites this morning – as has the reported interest In Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan.
Again, it’s the Mirror’s report that reads: “Ilkay Gundogan’s recruitment was top of the agenda in Manchester City’s transfer summit in Amsterdam on Monday.
“The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is one of the most wanted players in the world with the likes of City, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus all chasing his signature.
“Gundogan, 25, has been described by his old boss Jurgen Klopp as ‘intelligent, the complete midfielder’.
Ron Manager
Lower Slaughter Gazette
“The Germany international has told Dortmund he will not renew his contract that expires in 2017 and is expected to be sold this summer in a cut-price £25 million deal.”
Meanwhile Bacary Sagna has told reporters City are gearing up for a final push in the title race, even if the odds are currently favouring the clubs above.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Sagna defiantly said: ‘We can do it,” he said. “When I see the way we react when we’re in a bad situation – we always step up.
‘I think it’s the experience of being in that situation and being champions before. We are kind of the same situation as in the past and I don’t see why we can’t do it now.
‘I want the Premier League because I’ve been in England for nine years now and it’s still waiting for me.
‘I want it so much and I want to give the maximum to get it. We can make history.’
That’s what we want to hear Bacs…
The ‘’and finally’ story this morning perhaps sums up the humour of City fans to a tee.
TAUNTED: A pigeon, yesterday
NBC Sports commentators were amused when bored Blues started taunting a pigeon on the pitch near the corner of the South Stand.
They write: “Sometimes your team is winning by so much, you need to find a new target for your taunts.
“That’s exactly what happened in the Man City-Aston Villa match this past weekend. City was dominating Villa when their fans decided it was time to give up on the Villians and turn their attention to a pigeon.
“A pigeon camped out near the corner flag and these fans got really creative with their taunts. My favourite taunt would have to be when the gaggle of fans suggest that Villa would benefit from signing the pigeon to their squad.”
More of the same tomorrow…
